Utilizing on-board measurements and location as inputs into load tracking

• US 10,380,808 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2017
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Sherlock, Lance R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US15/701,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20190080525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/02 for digging trenches or ditches machines for making foundation slots E02F3/205, E02F3/475 take precedence; agricultural ploughs for working ridges A01B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A mobile machine includes a load carrying mechanism configured to carry a load of material during operation of the mobile machine at a worksite. The mobile machine includes a position detection system configured to determine a position of the mobile machine and generate a position output indicative of the position of the mobile machine. The mobile machine includes a measuring system configured to determine a measure of the load and generate a measure output indicative of the measure of the load. The mobile machine also includes a material movement tracking system configured to receive the position output from the position detection system and the measure output from the measuring system and, based on both the position and the measure output, generate a material tracking indicator indicative of movement of the load of material around the worksite.

Claims

1. A mobile machine, comprising:

a load carrying mechanism configured to carry a load of material during operation of the mobile machine at a worksite;

a position detection system configured to determine a position of the mobile machine and generate a position output indicative of the position of the mobile machine;

a measuring system configured to determine a measure of the load and generate a measure output indicative of the measure of the load; and

a material movement tracking system configured to receive the position output from the position detection system and the measure output from the measuring system, and, based on both the position and the measure output, generate a material tracking indicator indicative of movement of the load of material around the worksite.

2. The mobile machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication system configured to communicate the material tracking indicator to a remote control and monitoring system.

3. The mobile machine of claim 2, wherein the remote control and monitoring system comprises load tracking logic configured to receive a plurality of material tracking indicators from a plurality of mobile machines on the worksite and to track movement of the load of material among the plurality of mobile machines.

4. The mobile machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface device configured to provide a display of the material tracking indicator to an operator of the mobile machine.

5. The mobile machine of claim 1, wherein the material movement tracking system comprises:

trigger detection logic that detects a presence of the load on the mobile machine, and, based on the detected presence, provides an indication of the detected load presence to the position detection system and the measuring system.

6. The mobile machine of claim 5, wherein the trigger detection system is configured to detect a change in measure, indicated by the measure output, that indicates the load is placed on, or removed from, the load carrying mechanism.

7. The mobile machine of claim 5, wherein the material movement tracking system further comprises:

load tracking logic configured to track movement of the load as the mobile machine moves in the worksite.

8. The mobile machine of claim 7, wherein the material movement tracking system further comprises:

aggregation logic configured to aggregate a measure of a plurality of different loads of the material moved by the mobile machine based on the measure output and the position output and generate an aggregate material tracking indicator indicative of movement of the aggregate measure of the material.

9. The mobile machine of claim 8, wherein the aggregation logic is configured to aggregate the measure of the plurality of different loads of the material and generate the aggregate material tracking indicator intermittently.

10. The mobile machine of claim 5, wherein the load carrying mechanism comprises a digging mechanism that executes dig and dump operations.

11. The mobile machine of claim 10, wherein the trigger detection logic detects a dig operation based on changes in the measure output.

12. The mobile machine of claim 10, wherein the trigger detection logic detects a dump operation based on changes in the measure output.

13. The mobile machine of claim 1, wherein the measure output is indicative of a composition of the load of material within the load carrying mechanism.

14. The mobile machine of claim 7, wherein the load tracking logic provides an indication that the mobile machine, and the load of material, exited the worksite.

15. A control and monitoring system for a worksite, comprising:

a communication system configured to receive a plurality of material tracking indicators from a plurality of different, corresponding mobile machines at the worksite, the material tracking indicators being indicative of movement of a load of material, by the corresponding mobile machine, within the worksite, and an amount of material in the load;

aggregation logic configured to combine the plurality of material tracking indicators to obtain an aggregate indication indicative of movement of an aggregate amount of material, by the plurality of different mobile machines, to different positions in the worksite; and

output generator logic configured to receive a query from a user and generate an output based on the aggregate indication generated from the aggregation logic.

16. The control and monitoring system of claim 15, further comprising:

comparison logic configured to compare the aggregate indication to a worksite objective, and, based on the comparison, generate an output indicative of whether the worksite objective is being met.

17. The control and monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the query from the user comprises an aggregate indication over a specified timeframe at the worksite.

18. A method of operating a mobile machine in a worksite, comprising:

obtaining a load of material during a worksite operation using a load carrying mechanism of the mobile machine;

controlling a position detection system to determine a position of the load of material and generate a first signal indicative of the position;

controlling a mass detection system to determine a mass of the load of material and generate a second signal indicative of the mass; and

controlling a material movement tracking system to receive the first and the second signals and generate a material tracking indication based on the received first and second signals, the material tracking indication being indicative of movement of the load of material in the worksite.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

communicating the material tracking indication, using a communication system of the mobile machine, to a remote control and monitoring system.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying the material tracking indication on a display of the mobile machine to an operator of the mobile machine.